In a thrilling showdown, the Lakers fell short against the Suns, losing 113-110 in a game that went down to the wire. However, the spotlight was on Deandre Ayton, whose performance left fans scratching their heads.
Ayton managed just two points and four rebounds, hitting only one of his three shots. This was particularly surprising given that the Suns didn’t rely on a traditional center for much of the game.
Mark Williams, the Suns' big man, only saw 13 minutes on the court, but the Suns' guards and forwards effectively shut down Ayton in the paint. Adding fuel to the fire, Clint Capela of the Rockets took to Instagram to poke fun at Ayton’s struggles, urging him to "lock in" with the talents of LeBron James and Luka Doncic at his disposal.
Capela's jab came hot on the heels of Ayton's own comments after a loss to the Magic, where he suggested the Lakers shouldn’t treat him like Capela. The Rockets' center didn’t miss the chance to respond, and the Lakers soon benched Ayton in favor of a small-ball lineup with LeBron at center early in the fourth quarter.
This season, Ayton has been averaging 13.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks over 50 games, with a shooting percentage of 66.5%. Despite typically logging over 28 minutes per game, he was limited to just 23 minutes in this matchup. Ayton has hinted at dissatisfaction with his role, feeling underutilized beyond being just a lob-catching option.
Currently in the first year of a two-year, $16.2 million contract, Ayton holds a player option for the second year. If his role doesn’t evolve, he might consider exploring other opportunities. The Lakers have reportedly tried various strategies to boost Ayton's confidence, but if performances like this persist in critical games, they may reevaluate their options come summer.
With 24 games remaining in the regular season, the Suns' victory brings them within striking distance of the sixth seed in the West, posing a direct challenge to the Lakers. Both teams now share a record of 34 wins, but the Lakers have played two fewer games. As the playoff race heats up, the Lakers will need Ayton to step up and deliver.